It's a well-known fact that the headlights on our cars need much improving. There are many headlight bulbs out there that make many claims. I have learned from much research that MANY of the headlights that are sold at Auto Zones, Pep Boys, Checkers, etc, are really not any better then the factory types.

Below is a great site for educating yourself about headlights:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/home.html

I have chosen to go with either of the following:
Narva RangePower+50 and RangePower+30, GE Night Hawk, and Philips Vision Plus, and Osram Silver Star. These lights are by far the best replacement lighting out there. They may be hard to find (except in Europe) but do the job very well.

It's a name game: Osram, the well-established German lampmaker, sells a line of automotive bulbs they call "Silver Star". Osram bought the well-established American lampmaker Sylvania in the early 1990s, so Osram is now Sylvania's parent company. Sylvania also sells a line of automotive bulbs they call "Silver Star", but it's NOT the same product!!

The Sylvania Silver Stars have blue glass. Light output is of legal levels, but as with all blue-filtered bulbs, you DO NOT get more light from them. The Sylvania SilverStar bulbs have a very short lifetime, because the filament is overdriven to get a legal amount of light despite the blue glass. They are NOT any better then the factory bulbs, this has been scientifically tested, the best bulbs are the HARDEST to find bulbs.

 

so you are telling me that my silverstars aren't any brighter than my factory lights? where is the roflmao smiley??? makes me wonder how someone with their head shoved I dunno where so far that they can breath, let alone see the difference, I switched my bulbs one at a time and I will guarentee no matter what some report shows that the silvers are way brighter. How much stock ya got riding on the ones you are trying to promote?

 

The Silver Star sealed beams are better, because they were able to redesign the reflector-lens system.

Anything that puts out more light which is to be shoved in a standard light housing is not legal in the US. Any illegal bulb isn't likely to work better either, because the filament is larger, and defocuses the optics, resulting is light scattering more. Sure you get more light, but not where you need it. That's been known ever since halogens came out, and people experimented with higher wattage bulbs.

Your best bet is to either replace the entire headlamp assembly, or add auxiliary lamps, rather than fiddling with the stock ones.

Michael

 

I have had silver stars and they may be brighter but they didn't give me anymore vision at night...they were nicer in the rain or snow. But they blue out after two months I have GE Nighthawks now and they are alot whiter light that seems to penetrate more but is worse in fog. But what would I know I only drive 60% of my time at night, in Canada, Near foggy water, and I have perfect 20/20 vision. I have 4 55w deer hunters that keep the critters off my bumper that come on with the high beams. Legal is one thing, safety is another. I'm one of those butt heads who doesn't dim his lights to on coming traffic when the divided highways are a 1/4 mile apart. ks

 

The Silver Stars are better than stock. I was referring to the OSRAM Silver Stars or any NON blue Silver Star.
The BLUE Silver Stars do NOT project more light onto the road. The blue color "looks cool" but does NOTHING to light-up the road any better than the stock lights. It actually loses light as it must pass thru a blue color which robs the projecting true white color.

It goes back to the "I installed a high-flow air filter and I can FEEL the difference". When in reality the truck/car has the same performance (sometimes worse).

 

abc4yew -

You are CORRECT! The Sylvania Silver Start bulbs WILL HAVE A SHORTER LIFETIME. That is a FACT. The filament is overdriven to get a legal amount of light despite the blue glass. This is true for ALL blue-filtered bulbs.

The GE Night Hawk that you currently have are a far SUPERIOR light and they are my top choice. As with any high-intensity light they will bounce more light during fog due to the high white beam intesity that they put out.

Fog lights WITHOUT driving lights would be the best option in those conditions BUT you HAVE TO SLOW DOWN! As with any fog, you must not OUT-DRIVE your lights, fog lights will light the road low and wide but NOT far ahead.

 

I had silver stars on my 04.5...didnt see much difference. Where can you buy these Night Hawks?? I have bad night vision and could definately use somethign truely brighter.

 

GE Nighthawks are available at Canadian Tire . I've heard nothing but good things about Wagner TruVue's From NAPA. I drove home from Boston the other night in Fog so Dense I had to use the GPS to ensure I was going on the road....80+mph the whole way wishing I had a set of super duper Fog lights. ks

 

The Philips Vision Plus:
http://aid-auto.stores.yahoo.net/phviplrebu90.html

The OSRAM Silver Star are available from Europe:
ttp://www.powerbulbs.co.uk
GE Night Hawk & Narva I am not sure where you can get them....

 

I'll just use my method of improving night time visiblity. Works fine for me

 

I had a set of Sylvania Silver Stars in my Jeep and while they looked cool, the light output wasn't any better and both bulbs blew within 6 months. I switched over to eCode lenses and 80/100W bulbs. Not legal, but screw that. I wanted to be able to SEE at night. It was about safety for me. The eCode lense cuts off the beam very sharply so it didn't blind other drivers (unless of course the hi-beams were on!). I also upgraded my wiring harness to relay controlled, 10g wiring. Overkill, but it kep me from getting any significant voltage drop for the lights.

I just wish my truck's lights were that good! I am seriously considering going with a projector lense.

 

Hate to post negatively but....If safety was that important to you do you not care about the safety of the people you blind with your lights?

If you can't see it's much safer if you slow down and make it safe for people travelling in BOTH directions.

Just common courtesy.